Parker Brailsford

NFL Draft Profile: Parker Brailsford

Position: Center | School: Alabama (via Washington) | Class: Redshirt Junior

Height: 6'2" | Weight: 290 lbs | Archetype: Run Blocker (Zone Specialist)

College Career Summary

Parker Brailsford is the modern prototype for the "undersized but hyper-athletic" center. After redshirting at Washington in 2022, he became a foundational piece of the Huskies' Joe Moore Award-winning line in 2023, helping lead them to a National Championship appearance. Following coach Kalen DeBoer to Alabama, Brailsford immediately silenced critics who questioned if his 290-pound frame could survive the SEC.

In the 2025 season, Brailsford was a force of nature. Named a permanent team captain, he anchored an Alabama front that was arguably the most consistent in the country. He earned First-Team Midseason All-American honors and was a Rimington Trophy finalist. Known for his "nasty" playstyle and elite mobility, he became the ultimate weapon in space, often out-sprinting running backs to deliver blocks 20 yards downfield.

Career Stats & Highlights

• Career Starts: 26 (13 at Washington, 13 at Alabama)

• 2025 Sacks Allowed: 0 (A clean sheet across regular season SEC play)

• 2025 Knockdown Blocks (Pancakes): 86 (Led the Crimson Tide)

• Holding Penalties: 0 (2025)

• Honors: 2025 SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week (vs. Vanderbilt, LSU); 2024 FWAA Freshman All-American; 2023 Second-Team All-Pac-12.

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Grade	Scout's Notes
1	@ Florida State	A	9 knockdowns; graded 90% by coaches; neutralized elite interior speed.
2	vs ULM	B+	Handled business; 88% coaching grade; five knockdowns.
3	@ Wisconsin	A-	0 pressures allowed; showcased elite range on outside zone pulls.
4	vs Georgia	A+	The Apex. 12 knockdowns; neutralized 1st-round DTs; 94% coaching grade.
5	@ Vanderbilt	A	11 knockdowns; named SEC Player of the Week; purely dominant in space.
7	@ Missouri	A-	7 knockdowns; perfectly executed line calls in a loud road environment.
8	@ Tennessee	B+	9 knockdowns against a physical front; 88% grade; elite pad level.
9	vs South Carolina	B+	7 knockdowns; held firm against heavy bull-rushes.
11	@ LSU	A	SEC Player of the Week; 92% grade; directed the line in a hostile Tiger Stadium.
12	@ Oklahoma	A	Career-high 94% grade; 6 knockdowns; zero pressures allowed.
13	vs Auburn	B-	Worst Game. Played only 55 snaps due to nagging injury; struggled with anchor.

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 98/100

• Leadership: Elite. Voted captain in his first full year at Alabama; the "brains" of the operation.

• Mental Toughness: High; successfully transitioned from the Pac-12 to the SEC without a hitch.

• Competitor: Outlier. Plays with a "mean streak" and looks to finish every block with a pancake.

• Team Player: Heavily credited by QB Jalen Milroe for his protection and communication.

• Star: High; his athleticism is a highlight reel waiting to happen on screens.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 78/100

• Height/Weight: 6'2", 290 lbs. (Failed benchmarks). He is light and short for the NFL.

• Stamina: Elite; one of the few linemen who can "sprint, recover, and repeat" on every play.

• Durability: Plus; started 13 consecutive games in 2024 and nearly all in 2025.

• Injury History: Medically clean; minor late-season ankle tweak in 2025 is a non-factor.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 92/100

• Run Block: Strength. A leverage king; uses his low center of gravity to displace larger men.

• Pass Block: Plus; technically refined. Allowed 0.5 sacks in two years of Power 5 play.

• Strength: Good; high weight-room numbers (1000lb club) correlate well to the field.

• Technique: High; master of the "reach and seal" block.

• High Motor: Non-stop; often the first player to the ball carrier after a whistle.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 96/100

• Speed: Elite. Can genuinely outrun linebackers on pull plays.

• Agility: Plus; elite ability to stop and start to pick up delayed blitzers.

• Flexibility: High; natural "knee-bender" with very loose hips.

• Acceleration: Sudden; his first step off the snap is faster than most SEC nose tackles.

• Footwork: Clean; quick, choppy steps that allow for rapid recovery.

IQ (.20) — Grade: 97/100

• Awareness: Elite. Exceptional at passing off stunts and loops in pass protection.

Scouting Report

• Strengths: Elite lateral agility and range; "Leverage King" due to a naturally low center of gravity; technically flawless in zone run schemes; high-IQ "field general" who directs the entire front; zero-sack production in the SEC.

• Weaknesses: Size/Mass. He is dangerously light at 290 lbs; long-armed NFL interior rushers could "cock-and-fire" into his chest and walk him back; strictly a Center prospect—lacks the size to kick out to Guard.

• Scheme Fit: Ideal for a Wide Zone or Shanahan-style offense (e.g., Dolphins, 49ers, Rams).

• NFL Comparison: Tyler Linderbaum.

Scout's Final Word

"Parker Brailsford is a 'weight-room versus film' debate. If you look at the scale, you’ll want to pass. If you watch the tape, you’ll see a kid who treated SEC defensive tackles like ragdolls. He is the best athlete at the center position since Jason Kelce. While his lack of mass is a concern against 'Planet Theory' nose tackles, his technical ceiling and IQ make him a day-one starter for a zone-heavy team. Draft Projection: 3rd Round.